Your dad only turns 80 once...

[FJmonkey]

Ok, if my humour falls flat on the other side of the world, I don't care.

But, given the embarrassment of this comment being taken seriously, which it seems to have been, I must clarify it.

I WASN'T SERIOUS!

Noel

FWIW I got it, not a knee slapper but I think most understood it.

[simi_ed]

"Paul Sr. just arrived and he's in there signing autographs!!!"  I thanked her for the heads up, put on my helmet and got on the road.


Cap'n Ron. . .

Man!!!!! You passed on meeting Paul Sr. in the flesh? What were you thinking? AND could have got his autograph.

Ok, if my humour falls flat on the other side of the world, I don't care.

But, given the embarrassment of this comment being taken seriously, which it seems to have been, I must clarify it.

I WASN'T SERIOUS!

Noel

So, Noel, Are you apologizing to us for that embarrassment, Paul Sr.?  If so then apology accepted; otherwise no apology required or accepted.   

[1tinindian]

Keep going with the trip details Ron.
It gives me even more reason to check in to the forum, (like that was really a problem anyways!)

I love the story! Keep it up!

Leon

[Bminder]

But, given the embarrassment of this comment being taken seriously, which it seems to have been, I must clarify it.

I WASN'T SERIOUS!

Noel

I don't think anyone took it seriously. Not every joke turns into a corker, cobber.


Ron, LOVE the report. I'm living vicariously through you. You've even inspired me to plan a quick trip up to the Black Hills of my homeland South Dakota.

[simi_ed]

Keep going with the trip details Ron.
It gives me even more reason to check in to the forum, (like that was really a problem anyways!)

I love the story! Keep it up!

Leon

+1
You're spinning a great yarn, Cap'n!

[Capn Ron]

"Paul Sr. just arrived and he's in there signing autographs!!!"  I thanked her for the heads up, put on my helmet and got on the road.

Cap'n Ron. . .

Man!!!!! You passed on meeting Paul Sr. in the flesh? What were you thinking? AND could have got his autograph.

Ok, if my humour falls flat on the other side of the world, I don't care.

But, given the embarrassment of this comment being taken seriously, which it seems to have been, I must clarify it.

I WASN'T SERIOUS!

Noel

I was 90% sure you were being sarcastic and thought that was pretty funny...but then I thought about the 10% chance that maybe in your part of the world Paul Sr. was on a different reality show where he wasn't a complete d-nozzle.  Not a chance!   

Cap'n Ron. . .

[Capn Ron]

Thanks for all the kind words...just glad to know the passengers didn't fall off a couple of miles back!   

Bminder...I might just join you on a Black Hills, SD ride!  Spent a couple of days there and was VERY impressed with that whole area!

Looks like someone has produced a "Harley Filter" for some of the twisty roads there!   



Cap'n Ron. . .

[1tinindian]

The Black Hills sounds like a great Rally destination.
That's only 500 miles for me.

Leon

[Capn Ron]

Second Leg, Day 1:  Upstate NY to Somerset, PA (403 miles)

After almost two weeks at my parent's home-base, I was well rested, well fed and well looking forward to getting back on the road!  A great friend of mine had moved to South Carolina with his family a few years back and I was overdue for a visit...so, I'm heading SOUTH!

Getting there was only half the goal and I made a plan to go see "Falling Water" in Pennsylvania.  It's likely the most famous of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes and if I just altered my course a bit to the west, I could stop by for a look!

The first three hours of today's ride was super-slabbing it down interstate 88 from Albany to Binghampton with a bit of rain now and again.  At about hour two, I started singing some Jimmy Buffet to myself to pass the miles.  "Mother, Mother ocean...I have heard your call...I've wanted to sail upon your waters, since I was three feet tall..."  Ahhhh, Buffet always puts me in a good frame of mind.

Here's a shot of today's route complete with red direction arrows as I'm now back-tracking over some of the states I've already done on the way up to NY:



After Binghampton, I got off the interstate and stuck to back roads.  I saw more people on riding lawnmowers who were happy to wave back at me and smile.  It's a good feeling...That guy would probably lend me a gallon of gas or a tool if I needed it in a pinch. 

I picked Somerset, PA as a stopping point for the night because it was just North of Mill Run, PA where Falling Water is and I plan on seeing it first thing in the morning on my way south.  I got a hotel and the owner was very friendly.  He was interested in my trip and asked me if I was in the area to see Falling Water...or the Flight 93 Memorial.  "OHHHH...Is that nearby?"  He said it was about 50 miles back on my route...I must have passed it and didn't even realize.  I thought that would have been nice to go see.  Well, I'm back to focusing on my trip to Falling water in the AM.

I parked the bike in front of my hotel room and unpacked.  I then called a restaurant and placed an order to pick up and went to start my bike.  It wouldn't start.  That same issue where it would turn over, but just wouldn't even attempt to fire.  When this happened before, if I kept trying, on some random attempt, it would fire right up and run perfectly!  Not happening this time...just would not start!     I left the bike and hoofed it to the restaurant and back to the hotel and figured I'd deal with it in the morning.  It was a long day and I was tired, so I ate my dinner and turned in for the night.

Cap'n Ron. . .

[The General]

Second Leg, Day 1:  Upstate NY to Somerset, PA (403 miles)

After almost two weeks at my parent's home-base, I was well rested, well fed and well looking forward to getting back on the road!   At about hour two, I started singing some Jimmy Buffet to myself to pass the miles.  "Mother, Mother ocean...I have heard your call...I've wanted to sail upon your waters, since I was three feet tall..."  Ahhhh, Buffet always puts me in a good frame of mind.

Cap'n Ron. . .

Being a pirate is good for avoiding speed tickets. But as the sun rises and I first head towards the Glasshouse Mountains I like this one from jimmy: Jimmy Buffett - Brown Eyed Girl [HD]
mmmm...think I might go for a ride now!

[Capn Ron]

Second Leg, Day 2: Somerset, PA area tour (150 miles)

Today was an emotional roller coaster.  My riding plans were influenced by quite a few factors that I couldn't predict at the outset and that made for an excellent day!  This is the day that convinced me that sometimes life is better without a plan.  Just take whatever the day brings and roll with it...where you end up is a mystery and what you experience along the way is a gift.

I'll put the map at the end this time because it's a spoiler.  I woke up wondering if the bike would start or not.  I packed up the Givis and walked across the street to get some breakfast.  I figured if it did start, I'd want to just get moving.  I got back from breakfast and the bike fired right up first time!  Sweet.  I started convincing myself that it was heat related...the fact that it sat all night cured what ailed it and I was on my merry way.  

I headed off to Mill Run, PA...the location of Falling Water.  I rode through Laurel Ridge and Ohiopyle State Parks on the way and it was splendid!  Hilly, curvy, tree-lined roads that instantly put me in the moment...focusing on the ride and not the destination!  After all the slabbing yesterday, this was a pleasure!

I got to Falling Water and it was more amazing than I expected.  I thought I would take a quick look and then make progress south.  The place really took me...it was such a peaceful place...surrounded by nature...completely part of nature that I didn't want to leave.  I spent four hours there!!  The house is built using cantilevers and hangs over a stream and waterfall.  There's even a staircase from the living room floor down to the stream where you can go swimming:



You can just see the top of the waterfall where it drops off in the background.  This is a shot looking at the house from below the waterfall:



Hard to capture the beauty in a picture, but I tried...It was very overcast and every once in a while, the sun would put a spotlight on the house for just a few minutes and I'd shoot away trying to get a great picture...I did the best I could to try and do the place justice.



I was so enamoured with Falling Water and Western Pennsylvania that I decided to stay in the area and go visit the Flight 93 Memorial 50 miles to the north.  I had more great roads to ride on the way there and although I wasn't making any progress south, I didn't care.  I crossed three covered bridges in around ten miles:



I wasn't sure what to expect of a memorial of a plane crash.



It was done very well.  From the entrance, you ride quite a way along rolling hills until you get to the site.  They had about a dozen displays outside that walk you through the timeline of events on September 11th, 2001.  It was a lot about logistics, timing, phone calls, flight paths, coming up with a plan to fight back and a map of the last few minutes of that flight when the decision was made to put it down.  The very next display was simply this:



Looking at each of their faces and reading their names I started sobbing...I couldn't help it and I didn't care.  Here I was taking the trip of a lifetime, really enjoying myself and the freedoms we sometimes take for granted...It hit me all at once that the dreams of each one of them ended that day.  I was overwhelmed with grief.

You then take a 1/4 mile walk out to the actual site and the memorial for each of the passengers.  It was very tastefully done.



After that, I took a ride up into the rolling hills north of there.  More wide open hilly farm land to ride and I took a little break next to some windmills:



It was a great place that I had completely to myself for twenty or so minutes.  It was good to reset myself from the emotions of the memorial and get on my way.

I ended up right back at the same hotel I stayed in the night before.  The bike was perfect all day...I wondered if the starting issue magically went away all by itself!  I slept great!

Definitely not to plan, but by the end of the day I had knocked out these 150 miles:



Cap'n Ron. . .

[movenon]

 "I started singing some Jimmy Buffet to myself to pass the miles.  "Mother, Mother ocean...I have heard your call...I've wanted to sail upon your waters, since I was three feet tall..."  Ahhhh, Buffet always puts me in a good frame of mind. i_am_so_happy"

Indeed, Jimmy and some rum got me through some interesting times..... Occasionally I still drift there. Usually about mid winter......
Keep the report going 
George

[Firehawk068]

Awesome stories Cap'n......................Keep them coming! 

[WhiteBeard]

This is awesome!

[Capn Ron]

This is awesome!

Thanks for coming along for the ride...all the way from Sweden!!!  I'm humbled!   

Cap'n Ron. . .